When Tom Brady steps onto an NFL field, he still appears to be the same ultra-competitive former sixth-round draft pick who willed himself into becoming possibly the greatest quarterback of all time.

But Brady’s favorite target, Rob Gronkowski, says he’s softened his approach with his teammates during training camp as the 40-year-old nears the end of his Hall of Fame career.

“I would say, probably back in the day, he was probably a little more on you if you didn’t get it right, a little bit more in your face. But he’s going on 41 now, I feel like he backed off on that a little bit, which is nice. He used to be mean to me,” Gronkowski said lightheartedly after Wednesday’s practice, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “Now he’s not to these young guys anymore.”

According to Gronk, though, Brady isn’t showing his age.

“At age 41, there are coaches younger than him on the roster. And he looks younger than the coaches. Just the way he’s moving, just (how) reliable he is at times, is just unbelievable and something to look up to.”

Drew Brees and Tom Brady are changing expectations for the career lengths of NFL quarterbacks at ages 39 and 40, respectively.

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton credits the lifestyle choices of both quarterbacks for prolonging their careers.

“It’s different now. I mean, it’s different than it used to be,” Payton said on “Going Deep with Dan Schwartzman” on NBC Sports Radio. “When you see Tom Brady and these guys, they’re eating, they’re lifting, they’re sleeping differently. I mean, 25 years ago, Len Dawson was having cigarettes at halftime.

“It’s changed a lot … When you take that and the work ethic and the talent and put it all together, you get the Drew Brees and you get someone special,” said Payton.

Brady is coming off an MVP-winning 2017 season that concluded with a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII. Brees led the league with 386 completed passes and a completion percentage of 72.0 while throwing for 4,334 yards and 23 touchdowns.

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current CBS broadcaster Tony Romo says people shouldn’t read too much into reports of tension between Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.

Appearing on NFL Network, Romo compared the Belichick-Brady relationship to that of a married couple.

“I just think when you work together for 15, 20 years, whatever it is, I think that, invariably, when you have the success they have, people have to come up with stuff,” he said. “I also think that I’ve been upset with my coaches before, and then you come back and you’re fine. And then you get upset with them, and you come back and you’re fine. It’s a part of sports.

“… I don’t really think there’s a whole lot to it. I think they probably squabble just like any married couple for 20 years and then they also love each other.”

Romo was also asked if he could see Brady playing for another team besides the New England Patriots.

“My rough guess is that he’s going to finish his career in New England, no question,” Romo said.

At nearly 41 years old, Tom Brady can see the end of his NFL journey looming.

In an excerpt from an interview with Oprah Winfrey, set to air Sunday, the New England Patriots star quarterback admitted he’s pondering retirement more often as he wants to spend more time with his children.

“I think about it more now than I used to,” Brady said, according to Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald. “I think I’m seeing there’s definitely an end coming sooner, rather than later.”

Brady has made it clear on numerous occasions that he believes he can play into his mid-40s. However, when pressed on what age he’s aiming to play until by Oprah, the five-time Super Bowl champion refused to get specific.

“As long as I’m still loving it,” Brady said. “As long as I’m loving the training and the preparation and willing to make the commitment. But it’s also, I think what I alluded to a lot in the docu-series (“Tom vs. Time”), there’s other things happening in my life, too.

“I do have kids that I love, and I don’t want to be a dad that’s not there, driving my kids to their games . . . my kids have brought a great perspective in my life. Kids just want the attention. You better be there. And be available to them.”

Brady’s offseason has been dominated by his absence from the Patriots voluntary workouts, a departure from his usual preparations. The NFL’s reigning MVP did report for mandatory minicamp at the start of June, along with Rob Gronkowski, who has also appeared more disconnected from the Patriots since the end of the season.

Johnson – who helped the Eagles defeat the Patriots in Super Bowl LII in February – criticized the AFC juggernaut before and after that game, calling Tom Brady a “pretty boy” and New England a “fear-based organization,” among other comments.

After taking a few months to reflect this offseason, Johnson doubled down on his critiques.

“Here’s what pissed me off,” Johnson said during an appearance on “The Steve Austin Show.” “The Patriots, obviously, I respect their coach, I respect Bill (Belichick), I respect Tom Brady, but just because the way that they won the Super Bowls, the Patriot Way, is that how everybody else is supposed to do the same thing? No, it’s not. And that’s what I got mad at, the arrogance by them.

“There was obviously some stuff behind closed doors. Their owner talking s— to our owner. Bill talking s— to our head coach (Doug Pederson) before the game. I’m not going to say it, but a lot of s— kind built up to that, and I just got tired of hearing about it, man, to be honest.”

Johnson also dismissed the Patriots’ defense, which struggled in the Super Bowl and drew scrutiny after Belichick unexpectedly benched starting cornerback Malcolm Butler throughout the game.

“I saw a defense that wasn’t overly talented. It was all really about containing Tom Brady,” the All-Pro tackle said. “We had a hard time doing that – he had 505 yards. But that was really it, man. Going into the game, I’m not going to be shell-shocked by it. That was kind of our thing going in. I think we had the upper hand on that.”

Few thought the New England Patriots star quarterback’s status was in doubt for the upcoming season, and despite admitting that the situation is less than ideal for his family, Brady confirmed he’ll return for 2018.

“Part of this offseason for me is certainly about still preparing for what’s ahead in my next journey, my next mountain to climb with this group of teammates, but it’s also (acknowledging) that a lot of people are getting the short end of the stick in my life – certainly my wife and my kids,” Brady said during an appearance at the Milken Institute Global Conference, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss.

“Football is year-round for me. It’s a lot of thought, a lot of energy and emotion put into it, but I need to invest in them, too. My kids are 10, 8, and 5. They’re not getting younger, so I need to take time so I can be available to them, too. … I’ve really spent the last two or three months doing those things, and I think I’m really trying to fill my tank up so that when I do go back, I can go back and I think I’ll actually be, in my mind, a better player, a better teammate, because I’ll be really rejuvenated.”

The reigning MVP certainly has nothing left to prove but spoke about what he feels he needs to accomplish to round out his career.

“I have personal goals. I want to keep playing. I’ve said for a long time I want to play to my mid-40s. I was told three years when I was 36-37, ‘You can’t keep playing; no one wins Super Bowls (at that age).’ It’s a great challenge for me. I think I’ve been challenged my whole life. I feel like I can do it.”

Tom Brady lauded Bill Belichick as the “best coach in the history of the NFL” on Monday, and added that the two share a “very respectful” relationship despite reported tension between them.

“He’s very respectful to me,” Brady told sportscaster Jim Gray and an audience of listeners at the Milken Institute Global Conference. “We’ve had a great relationship. A very respectful relationship for a long time and I feel like he’s the best coach in the history of the NFL.”

Brady’s bond with the New England Patriots seemingly took a hit last year, and reports of discord between the quarterback and his coach led to a postseason meeting with the pair and team owner Robert Kraft.

Brady, though, called Belichick an “incredible coach” and an “incredible mentor.” He acknowledged the notoriously grumpy Belichick is “not the easiest coach to play for,” but added that “he’s the best for me.”

The five-time Super Bowl champion was less direct when asked if he feels appreciated by the Patriots.

“I plead the Fifth,” he said.

The answer drew laughs until he offered a slightly more insightful response.

“I think everybody, in general, wants to be appreciated more at work,” Brady said.

Brady was equally unconvincing at first when asked if he’s happy.

“I have my moments,” he replied.

However, he gave a more resounding “absolutely” when pressed to answer whether he’s happy with the people he works both with and for.

“There’s no people I’d rather play for or be committed to than the team that I’ve been with for a long time,” said Brady.

He noted that his partnership with the Pats – like every relationship in life – has gone through its ebbs and flows.

The 40-year-old skipped the Patriots’ voluntary team workouts in April, fueling rumors that there’s still some sour feelings between Brady and the only franchise he’s ever played for.